Bab el-Mandeb is an important passage between the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The area is exposed to high risks of piracy and conflict, and 3.8 million barrels pass through every day.

The Suez Canal is a major transit point for oil from the Persian Gulf. Terrorism and political closures are always a risk. Along with the SUMED pipeline, it sees 4.6 million barrels pass through every day.